Four-fifths of China's water from wells 'unsafe because of pollution'

Ministry's samples from 2,103 wells in eastern flatlands show none were considered pristine and half were unfit for human consumption of any type

More than 80% of China's underground water drawn from relatively shallow wells used by farms, factories and mostly rural households is unsafe for drinking because of pollution, a government report says.

The Water Resources Ministry study posted to its website on Tuesday analysed samples drawn in January from 2,103 wells used for monitoring in the country's major eastern flatland watersheds.